The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, February 25, 1942. GREYMOUTH INVADED!

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1942, Page 5

The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, February 25, 1942. GREYMOUTH INVADED!

A mock invasion to test the preparations for resisting enemy attack, and methods of dealing with the conditions that may arise, will be staged in Greymouth next Saturday week. It will also serve, to some degree, to accustom the population to what might happen if an invasion did take place. Although details have not been disclosed, as it is considered best to make the ment of surprise as great as possible, it is understood that the circumstances of the “invasion” will He as realistic as possible, and many of the sights and sounds will resemble those which are calculated to cause terror by an enemy. This will, no doubt, have considerable value in getting the populace used to the accompaniments of a modern assault on a town by sea and air. These accompaniments, as was found at the beginning of the war, had a considerable effect in causing panic among the people unaccustomed to them. The authorities are also wisely advocating that the public, especially women and 'children, should make use of the air raid trenches provided. If this is done, it will also mean that the psychological effect of seeking shelter below the ground during an actack will be less severe. Such a trial and the reality of an air raid arc, of course, two veij different things, but a great deal will be gained if people are trained to become accustomed to reaching places of safety without undue excitement. Again, the disorganisation of ordinary activities which will be caused will be useful experience. People will find themselves unable to. move about freely ; they will be interfered with and ordered about by authorities, and will learn, to some extent, how to react to such conditions. But the

most important testing will be that of the organisation of the defenders and the . Emergency Precautions’ personnel. They will have most to learn. < The Emergency Precautions’ Scheme has, during the last month, been augmented by some 1,200 new 1 members under compulsory en-

rolment. Both old and .new inembers will learn something of the tasks they have to carry out and will have some experience of the exercise of authority. In this respect, it will be absolutely necessary that the trial be taken in all seriousness. There will probably be a tendency among some of the public to regard the matter as an afternoon’s entertainment. But if it is to have any real value, it is essential that or • dors should be given and obeyed as though a real danger existed. There will be mistakes, and these may be easily seen by the public. But there will be opportunity for useful criticism afterwards. The Emergency Precautions’ plans in Greymouth, as in other towns and cities of New Zealand,, are based on what has been found expedient in England, where conditions are very different. New Zealand towns are less centralised and, apart from war conditions, are less used to being subject to organisation of the populace in such emergencies as big fires and heavily congested road traffic, both of pedestrians and. vehicles. Experience in dealing with casualties quickly is also probably not so highly developed. The trial will afford an indication of what may be needed, and the authorities should be ready to modify preconceived ideas in the light of the experience gained. Again, although the personnel of the E.P.S. is-large, it will be found that many who are enrolled are tit only for light duties. There need not now be any concern about the number of men available, but it should be seen for what work individual members are best suited. One of the most important questions, too, that will arise, is that of the disposal of the inactive civil population. If the public plays its part it will probably be possible to gain some idea of how movements of people will hamper the work of defence. Plans for evacuation have been discouraged by the Government, but it yet remains to be seen whether it is advisable for the mass-of the population to be present during an attack. In Hokitika, despite official discouragement, there are plans for the removal of 1,200 people. This may be the wisest course to take. In spite of warnings, it is likely that, should an attack actually occur, people will rush into the streets and endeavour to get right away from the town, either on foot or in such conveyances as they can command. Actually, the more people, react to the mock invasion as they would to a real one, the greater the ,advantage would be. Very little is known at present as to the extent of the disorganisation that would be caused or how it couldbest be prevented or dealt with. This and other matters can only be very partially learned by tlie trial invasion, but what can be learned should be well noted and considered without prejudice.